"Isn't this beautiful?" Meg sighed dreamily as she and Gabi sat in the Collinsport Café, drinking coffee and admiring the local scenery. It had been quite awhile since Meg had felt this relaxed and at ease. Getting away was a good idea.

"Yeah," Gabi agreed. "Somehow the sea air smells different here than it does at Sunset Beach."

"That's because it doesn't have all the pollution that dilutes it." Meg laughed

"You know Meg," Gabi said cautiously. "I know you said you didn't want Ben to know where you are but we are running low on cash. I KNOW the minute each of us uses a credit card, Ben and Ricardo will be on the first plane to Maine."

"I'll hawk my pearls if I have to Gabi." Meg said between sips. "We can get temporary jobs if we have to. What I am NOT ready for is Ben's constant confusion and hesitation over Maria."

"Excuse me for interrupting," They looked up to see a fairly attractive woman dressed in silk pants suit smiling at them. She looked to be in her early forties and was holding a binder and some books. "My name is Hallie Evans. I'm the principal of Collinsport Elementary School. I know a place that constantly needs part time cleaning help. Would you be interested in earning your room and board?"

Gabi looked skeptical but Meg looked intrigued. "Yes. Please sit down and tell us more." She smiled.

Hallie Evans sat down and Meg and Gabi introduced themselves. "It's a pleasure to meet you both." Hallie said. "Now the place I'm referring to is the Collinwood Bed & Breakfast. It's the actual house that once occupied the founders of Collinsport and their descendants."

"Really? Meg was fascinated while Gabi looked a bit dubious.

"Collinwood is located high on the cliffs, it's a grand and sprawling place with grounds to explore, gardens to enjoy There are even stables if you can ride. It's a wonderful 'sanctuary' for anyone who needs to get away and ponder things."

"You seem to know a lot." Gabi remarked.

"That's because I practically grew up there, My uncle who raised me was a family friend of theirs and I used to go there a lot." Hallie explained.

"May I ask why Collinwood is now a bed & breakfast?" Meg inquired Hallie suddenly looked sad. "A little over 20 years ago, a great….tragedy befell the Collins Family and because of it….they fell on hard times and never really recovered. In order to preserve the estate in its splendid grandeur, the place was converted into a bed and breakfast to help with cost of maintaining it. Marissa Collins runs it with William Loomis and a few loyal townspeople who believe in preserving it.

"She is the only Collins left?" Gabi asked

"Only by marriage." Hallie said. "She was married to Quentin. He was killed along with several other family members in a fire at the old house. William Loomis was married to Carolyn Stoddard. She was Elizabeth Collin Stoddard's daughter. They were both killed as well along with Roger Collins and his son David."

"How horrible!" Meg was aghast. "What happened?"

Hallie wiped a tear. "There was another house on the grounds. It was the original house The Collins Ancestors lived in it before Collinwood was built. There was a party. The investigation concluded there must have been something wrong with the fireplace. Flames may have shot out. The room they were gathered in just burst into flames and….they couldn't get out.
Willie and Marissa were walking to the house wth my uncle and another friend when they saw it…..happen."

"Oh my God!" Gabi exclaimed as Meg covered her mouth in shock.

"Oh I hate to think I'm scaring you off." Hallie looked worried. "Collinwood is a wonderful place to stay. The family had such a rich and vibrant heritage. I promise you will see the beauty of wonder of that when you see Collinwood. "

"No, you haven't discouraged me." Meg said. "I still want to stay there. It sounds wonderful." She looked at Gabi.

"Why not? When can we go there?" Gabi agreed though was secretly worried.

"Wonderful!" If you have a car, you can follow me and I'll talk with Marissa and arrange everything. I 'promise' you won't be disappointed and by staying there you will be contributing to the preservation of a grand and wonderous place that should 'never' be forgotten."

Hallie graciously paid their café bill and they walked out together.

As they followed Hallie's black Mercedes up the two lane road, enjoying the sea air as well as the spectacular view of the ocean, Meg looked excited while Gabi looked skeptical but she knew Meg was still fragile so she tried to be excited.

It wasn't long before they caught a glimpse of Collinwood. As they continued to drive up the winding road, it slowly rose out of the woods, it looked more like a castle to Meg.

"Oh…my…God!" She gasped. "It's huge. I didn't think it was going to be this big!"

"I know." Gabi was equally shocked.

They followed Hallie to where the garages were located. Gabi noticed the partial burnt out remains of a house in the distance. The building architecture from what she could tell was Greek Revival.

They were quiet for a good part of the walk to Collinwood until Hallie broke the silence. "I know you must have seen the ruins. It isn't that simple to not notice them. I have one thing to ask of both of you is that when you are exploring the grounds, you keep your distance from it. You see Willie and Marissa, they are both changed from the tragedy and I know it's
strange but they never want the place to be cleared. They want it to remain. There are plenty of other of places to explore."

"We'll stay away from it." Gabi promised. "I can guarantee we will."

They continued to walk to Collinwood, completely oblivious to the little girl that was watching them from the distance.

To be continued

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.